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Seniors risking ‘golden years’ by not protecting against pneumonia

May 2nd, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE

‘Love YourLungs at 65 Years Young’ this Pneumonia Awareness WeekAlmost two-in-three Queensland seniorsmay be jeopardising their ‘golden years’ by not protecting against an oftenfatal lung infection, despite being at increased risk.1Lung Foundation Australia’s ‘Love Your Lungs at 65 Years Young’ researchreleased today reveals 94 per cent of Queenslanders aged 65 to 74 do notrecognise age as arisk factor for pneumonia, while fewer than half correctlyunderstand vaccination can defend against pneumococcal pneumonia1 – a severe form of pneumonia caused bythebacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae2responsible for 82 per cent of pneumoniacases among those aged 65 years and over.3

According to respiratoryphysician and Lung Foundation Australia Board Member, Dr Lucy Morgan, Sydney,while Queensland seniors focus strongly on heart, skin andbreast health, they tendto ignore their lung health, even though pneumonia-like illness (pneumonia andinfluenza) is among the top 10 contributing causes of death inAustralia.4This Pneumonia Awareness Week(April 28 – May 4) Lung Foundation Australia is urging all Queensland seniorsaged 65 and over who are considered ‘at-risk’ ofcontracting pneumonia, andthose eligible for a five-year booster vaccine, to recognise its seriousnessand protect against the infection.“This year the number of Australians turning 65 and over will exceedthree million,”5said Dr Morgan.“Each year, the number of new cases of pneumococcal pneumonia risesexponentially among those aged between50 and 80 years, to nearly 200 per 100,000.3“That’s why it’s imperative that Queenslanders celebrating their‘golden years’ take advantage of recommended and government-funded vaccinationagainst pneumococcal pneumonia,”Dr Morgan said.Pneumococcal vaccination is listed on the National ImmunisationProgram (NIP) and funded under Immunise Australia for all Australians aged 65and over, with many eligible for asecond vaccine five years following theirfirst dose.3,6,7Dr Deb Mills, Travel Health specialist andMedical Director of Dr Deb’s Travel Medicine Clinics, Brisbane, says pneumococcal pneumonia should not beunderestimated.“Pneumococcal pneumonia is responsiblefor approximately 1.6 million deaths each year worldwide.8“It’s concerning that even among thoseaged 65 and overwith additional risk factors, such as diabetes, chronic lung, heart or kidneydisease, impaired immunity or being a smoker, thenew Lung Foundation Australiaresearch shows only 13 per cent of this age group recognise they are at highrisk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia,” said Dr Deb.As many as 44 per cent of Queenslandersaged 65 to 74 cite the reason for not having the first pneumococcal pneumonia vaccinationis because their doctor has not recommended it,while 39 per cent know nothingabout the booster vaccination or why it might be necessary. Furthermore, just30 per cent of survey respondents who had not been vaccinated againstpneumococcal pneumonia, intend to do so in the future.1“While the message about influenza vaccination is clearlyresonating, the message about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination is not,” DrDeb said.The new research reveals Queenslandersaged 65 to 74 are more likely to have been vaccinated against the flu (74 percent) than pneumococcal pneumonia (39 per cent). Whilepneumonia often arisesafter a cold or flu, 61 per cent of survey respondents fail to differentiatebetween the flu and pneumonia.1“Worryingly, Queensland seniors cannotdifferentiate between pneumonia and the flu,1 and how best to protect themselves,” said Dr Deb.more#Teacher,widow, mother-of-three and grandmother-to-seven, Gay, Brisbane, was unaware ofthe seriousness of pneumonia before contracting the potentially life-threateninginfection inAugust, 2012. Not suspecting her chronic asthma and age (over 65)placed her at increased risk of pneumonia, Gay’s active lifestyle was turnedupside down and she was left bed-ridden for days.Oneevening, Gay began experiencing acute asthma-like symptoms, including chestpain and difficulty breathing, triggered by heavy smoke in the air.“Itwas a horrific experience. I had a constant, terrible cough, which resulted inheavy chest and back pain.“Iwas house-bound for days, living on my own, and only able to fall asleep withhot water bottles sitting on my chest to support my back,” said Gay.“Myneighbor purchased medical supplies for me from my local chemist as I simplycouldn’t move.”Sevenweeks following Gay’s diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia, she was able toreturn to her GP for a pneumococcal vaccination to help reduce her risk ofre-acquiring theinfection. Gay plans to have her booster vaccination in thenext few years.“IfI had have known I was at high-risk for contracting pneumonia, I would havetalked to my doctor about how to help protect against the potentiallylife-threatening infection a long timeago.”This Pneumonia AwarenessWeek, Lung Foundation Australia is urging seniors to be aware of the seriousnessof pneumonia and to ‘Love Your Lungs at65 Years Young’, by protectingagainst this potentially life-threateninginfection.“It’s important for Queenslandseniors to understand that their age alone puts them at heightened risk ofcontracting pneumonia,” said Lung Foundation Australia Director, MsHeatherAllan, Brisbane.“Queenslanders aged 65 and over should talk totheir doctor about how best to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia,including government-subsidised vaccination.”Formore information about Pneumonia Awareness Week, visit www.lungfoundation.com.au or callLung Foundation Australia on 1800 654 301.Aboutpneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia and vaccinationPneumoniais a potentially life-threatening lung infection that affects the lungs. Thelungs are made up of small sacs which fill with air when a healthy personbreathes. When a personhas pneumonia, these sacs fill with pus and fluid,which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.9 Pneumoniamay be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungi.10 Pneumococcalpneumonia,caused by the bacterium Streptococcuspneumoniae,2 is the only type of pneumonia for which vaccinationis available.The pneumococcalvaccine is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and funded underImmunise Australia for all Australians aged 65 and over, with some eligible forasecond vaccination five years following their first dose.6,3,7About the Love Your Lungs at 65 Years Young survey1The ‘Love Your Lungs at 65 Years Young’ Galaxy Research survey wasconducted online, among a representative sample of 752 Australians aged 65 to 74,living in both capital andnon-capital city areas, from April 1 to 3, 2014. Thecollated data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latestpopulation estimates.

The survey garnered the attitudes of 65 to 74 year old Australianstowards, and understanding of, the seriousness of pneumonia and the importanceof protection against the potentiallylife-threatening infection.

AboutPneumonia Awareness Week 2014Pneumonia Awareness Week (Monday, April 28, to Sunday, May 4, 2014) is designed to educate Queenslanders intheir ‘golden years’ (aged 65 and over) at-risk of pneumonia, torecognise theseriousness of pneumonia, and ask their doctor how best to protect themselvesfrom contracting pneumococcal pneumonia, including vaccination.About LungFoundation AustraliaLung Foundation Australia was established in 1990by thoracic physicians concerned about the chronic shortage of funds forresearch into respiratory medicine and the impact of lungdisease on thecommunity. Lung Foundation Australia aims to ensure lung health is a priorityfor all Australians.

Dr Deb Mills has a passion for medicine and travel. She is the medical director of Dr Deb THE Travel Doctor, and has been working in travel medicine for over 25 years. She is one of the pioneers of Travel Medicine in Australia. This means she and her team have the expertise necessary to ensure you get the best travel medicine care possible.